Bullying may cause children to show physical symptoms that can act as signs for teachers, parents: Pediatrics study

Parents and teachers might want to take a closer look when children are experiencing ailments with an unknown cause, such as stomach pains, headaches and sleeping problems. These could be red flags of a deeper problem.

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Bullying may lead to more physical reactions than just bumps and bruises, as a new study shows many victims suffer unexplained psychosomatic symptoms as well.

Parents and teachers might want to take a closer look when children are experiencing ailments with an unknown cause, such as stomach pains, headaches and sleeping problems, these could be red flags of a deeper problem.

Lead authors Gianluca Gini and Tiziana Pozzoli of the Department of Developmental and Social Psychology, University of Padua, Padua, Italy, looked at 30 individual studies from around the world, and showed that the likelihood of bullied children experiencing unexplained sickness is twice as common than in those children who are not bullied.

"The results of this study suggest that any recurrent and unexplained physical symptom can be a warning sign of bullying," Gini told HealthDay online magazine.

The researchers suggest bullying be considered a significant international public health problem given its worldwide prominence among schoolchildren, and the possibility of lingering effects on mental and physical health into adulthood.

In Canada, one in three adolescent children have admitted to being bullied, according to Canadian Institutes of Health Research. Additionally, nearly half of parents in Canada have come forward and said that their child has been victimized by bullying.

"Children do not easily talk about their bullying experiences," Gini told HealthDay, but asking if they feel safe at school is sometimes a good way to get them to open up.

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Parents and teachers might want to take a closer look when children are experiencing ailments with an unknown cause, such as stomach pains, headaches and sleeping problems. These could be red flags of a deeper problem.

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